Subject: The Age: Fearful and uncertain,
Timorese refugees head back home

The Age Wednesday 4 October 2000

Fearful and uncertain, Timorese refugees head back home

By MARK DODD

MALIBAKA, EAST TIMOR

It is only 8am but the sun is scorching, and the 23 East Timorese
refugees squat in the shade at the Malibaka River checkpoint after
crossing back into their homeland.

Australian soldiers offer water and search their belongings for hidden
weapons, but those returning are mostly old men, women and children.
Nothing suspicious is found.

The refugees are glad to be back, but are nervous and unsure of the
reception that awaits them.

"I've come back because East Timor is my country - I used to live
here," says Semedio Tovares. His clothes are grubby, and he wears a
huge bronze crucifix around his neck.

Mr Tovares is quivering with fright, and grasps my hand to his chest
when I greet him.

Major John Mcaffrey, in charge of the checkpoint, gestures to the
refugee's bundles of possessions - a cooking pot, old wooden bed heads,
cane sleeping mats, a plastic stool, oil lamp, plastic jerry cans and a
grubby tooth brush.

One whiskered old man nurses a hen cradled in a sarong slung off his
shoulder.

"A lot of refugees coming across say the militia stole everything
of value," Major Mcaffrey says.

"Others bring an Indonesian army flag as a safe pass to get
through militia roadblocks, then they pull them out and drop them in the
river before they get here.

"Quite a few have malaria and dengue. Some have bruises from
beatings, and are absolutely terrified." By late morning officials
from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are taking names
and registering the refugees. They begin to relax when told that trucks
will soon arrive to collect them and they will be home within 24 hours.

The Malibaka crossing, one of six authorised crossing points between
East and West Timor, is heavily guarded by Australian troops.

Major Mcaffrey says cooperation with the Indonesian military on the
other side of the river has been good. The Indonesian soldiers are from
502 Airborne Battalion, a unit that once trained in Australia.

There is a direct phone link to the Indonesians, who used the
connection early yesterday to alert the Australians that the refugees were
on the way.

"They are proud to wear their parachute wings, and were not mixed
up in last year's violence," Major Mcaffrey says. "I think they
want to show that they were not part of it."

He says there is some evidence the Indonesian army is losing its
patience with the militias.

Two days ago, a notorious militia leader, Armindo Soares, was seen at
the nearby Nunura Bridge checkpoint being beaten up by refugees in
circumstances that are unclear.

Indonesian soldiers arrived on the scene to restore order and also
began kicking the man before leading him away.

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